astraphobia

PRONUNCIATION:

(as-truh-FO-bee-uh)

MEANING:

noun: An abnormal fear of lightning and thunder.

ETYMOLOGY:

From Greek astrape (lightning). Ultimately from the Indo-European root ster-
(star) that is also the source of star, asterisk, asteroid, astrology,
disaster, stellar, constellation, Persian sitareh (star), and the names
Stella and Esther.

NOTES:

Also known as astrapophobia and brontophobia (from Greek bronte-, thunder,
which also gave us brontosaurus).

USAGE:

"In the USA, it is estimated around 10 per cent of people suffer from
astraphobia to some degree."
Don White; Weatherwatch; Daily Telegraph (Sydney, Australia);
Dec 11, 2001.

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